By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 1: In a bid to give the aspirations of recognition for Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule a boost, the state government has formally handed over a plot of land at Mawlai Iewrynghep measuring 5,000 square feet to the Khasi Authors Society (KAS).
This will enable the KAS to build its office, which, it is believed, will serve as a beacon of literary knowledge about the indigenous language. The formal handing over of the land to KAS was done in New Delhi on Saturday by Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh.
A formal agreement was also signed between the Director of Arts and Culture and KAS president Dr DRL Nonglait.
When contacted, KAS president said that the society will soon formally take over the possession of the land.
“We will try to lay the foundation stone for construction of permanent office of the KAS at the earliest,” Dr Nonglait said.
He said that they are likely to approach the North Eastern Council (NEC) through the Arts and Culture department for funding to construct the office. “We will also explore other available options for funding,” KAS president said.
Meanwhile, Dr Nonglait also lauded the department for allotting a temporary space of the society behind the Soso Tham auditorium.
“We have been functioning from this temporary office for the past two years,” Dr Nonglait informed.
Earlier, the Arts and Culture minister had said that they had decided to allot the 5,000-square-feet plot to the Society for construction of its office building at the Tribal Research Institute at Mawlai, Iewrynghep, in view of the continuous struggle for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
According to him, they believe it would also help in strengthening their preparation for the inclusion of the two languages.
It may be mentioned that the KAS had organised a national seminar in Delhi on Friday to propagate and strengthen its claim for inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule as well as a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
Talking about taking this issue to Delhi, KAS president had said that the national main stream media must give its attention to the demand for inclusion of the Khasi language.
He said the KAS is determined to pursue this demand to its logical end.
“We will continue to pursue our demand by organising various forms of protest both in Shillong and Delhi,” KAS president added.